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SOUTH AFRICA: Disappointed by Desmond Tutu
by Gavin Mitchell
Anglican Mainstream
mainstreamsa@gmail.com
November 19, 2007
Anglican Mainstream Southern Africa wishes to put on record its disappointment with recent statements reportedly made by the retired Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu. The statements indicates a failure to understand the nature of the crisis, which faces the Anglican Communion, a crisis that is inhibiting our ability to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all.
The present crisis in the Anglican Church is about the centrality of the Bible to what members of our church believe (our doctrine) and how we live out that belief in our daily lives (our moral standards). Sexuality is merely the presenting issue.
In fact the decisions by Anglicans in the USA to distance themselves from the official province of that country has to do with the conscious vote at the convention of 2003 not to affirm basic Anglican Articles of religion. One of which states: "However, it is not lawful for the church to order anything contrary to God's written Word."
This Resolution B001 was defeated 84 to 66 at the 2003 convention. In addition its liturgical practice, sacramental discipline and doctrine of God have also departed from Anglican teaching and formularies.
Many faithful people feel that they can no longer continue living and worshipping in a chu rch that has departed in such a major way from the historic faith. The question of Bishop Robinson could really only have come up once that motion was defeated.
Archbishop Tutu claims that the Church has appeared homophobic. That claim cannot be substantiated. As Anglicans we believe that the God we worship loves every human being, that that according to the scripture, he makes the same demands of all those who love him: that we should "keep my commandments" Jn 14:15. In Anglican Mainstream SA we seek to encourage ministry that welcomes all, while upholding the revealed truth of scripture in a "grace filled" way.
The particular issue around Gene Robinson hinges on what the Bible teaches as the standards to be demanded of leaders in the church. These include holiness of life, and either celibacy or faithfulness in marriage between husband and one wife.
Finally, it saddens us that the questions of racial genetics and sexual orientation are being equated. Such an equation is at best spurious and indeed offensive. The origins and development of homosexuality are complex and our concern is with holiness of life and therefore behaviour, whatever its origins. Bp Bethlehem Nopece of Port Elizabeth sates: " I am offended at the equating of being born black and being born homosexual, there is no scientific evidence for the genetic origin of homosexuality at this time."
---Revd Gavin Mitchell is Convenor Anglican Mainstream Southern Africa
